The Breitling Watch Source Forums

Sure but of course they're to some degree related; I meant that the Aus batters have never had to bat in the shadow of any sort of total, in which case mental pressure might have created mistakes, which gets wickets, which gives stuttering bowlers a bit of confidence. Those momentum shifts you get in series. But ultimately, yes, no question: no comparison between Mitch and Anderson, or Lyon vs Swann/Monty etc. Who in the England team would get into a composite XI?

Insipid is a very good word for the English bowling.

This from Tom Fordyce on the BBC website this morning: "What could have been a thrilling final battle was instead by the end an annihilation, another black day in a series of almost unremitting gloom for the shambolic tourists." Nuff said.

Haven't posted in a while but can't resist bumping this. Pleased to see some old-school confidence, aggression, simple plans being executed properly and the best available players being selected for each match.

That was a really tough result for England today, I feel for their fans after day 2 was so encouraging.

Also, nice see a win without the need for the antics displayed by our younger opening batsman in the previous tests.

Gripping 1st day, some brilliant batting to rescue what was looking to be an abysmal score!

And Cook out second ball at the start of the second day just now. Padding up at a straight one. Night watchman Anderson is pummelled by Johnson and currently being treated for a hand injury. A boxing ref would have stopped this a long time ago.

Eng 23/5. This side keeps managing to redefine 'rock-bottom'.

Yeah 5 for 23 :-O

I can't believe that score. What a collapse by England

Once again Haddin saved what is clearly still a pretty fragile top order for Australia. Another great knock by Smith certainly helped also. Interested to see how the match develops but the advantage definitely with Australia right now.

_________________
Happines is Good Health and a Bad Memory.
"Ingrid Bergman"

Johnson just about knocked Ballance's head off with that last ball. Taken 10mins to find him a new helmet!

I think most of that ten minutes was spent looking for his head.

Have just watched an interview with Ian Botham. He echoed what pretty much every commentator has said here: the English have got their length wrong right thru the series. Lots of teams come to australia and get carried away by the bounce and bowl too short. Up until this test England haven't got one LBW in the series: they keep putting the ball back of a length and the Australians have punished them for it. The tragedy of this is that Anderson is superb when he pitches the ball up and lets it swing.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Complete domination by Australia yet again, this time with considerable help from England. This series is going to have a long lasting impact on some of the England players and the selectors need to figure out what they are going to do to rebuild a side that has some passion and spine.

Truly a whitewash this series. Last series ended up 3-0 for England but Australia had some close moments... Not so this time. Hopefully this pushes some big changes for Englabd and they come back stronger for it.

Been lots of talk down here about Cook's captaincy: too reactive, too defensive, not creative etc. Ian Chappell and Shane Warne in particular have been harsh.

The true measure of Australia comes next month: Sth Africa in Sth Africa.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Come on lads, it is only 32:31 to Australia in the ashes series history. Fairly even score. Right?

It is the hottest summer on record down under and the British lads just want to go back home to cool off a bit

_________________
"It is just a matter of time!"

Time to revive the longest running thread in Breitling Source history. The Aussies are back for 5 more tests starting in Cardiff on Wednesday. I really can't predict what may happen this time with so many changes since the 5-0 whitewash in Aus last year. So many things have altered, what with top bloke Ryan Harris calling it a day. Starc and Johnson at their best, An Aussie called up to lead England, Captain Cook finding some form, retirements of Swanny, Trott, Prior,and Pieterson amongst others, The Aussies looked good against Kent although they are bottom of the second division, and went ok against Essex. It may have been closer if Essex did'nt have two men retired hurt. Only thing I can be sure of, if it's anything like the two tests England recently played against New Zealand, it will be a fantastic summer of cricket.

_________________
Quite a few Breitlings, most of them starting with the letter C.

It's a cliche that the first test will be vital, but only cos it's true. If Johnson and Starc look a bit less menacing in English (ok Welsh) conditions, Johnson's radar goes off and the crowd gets to him, the English top order makes runs with Buttler and/or Stokes smacking Lyons about a bit, Anderson starts wobbling it around etc etc, then game-on. But if the Aussie quicks are on it and the English bats look nervous of Mitchell as they have previously, gulp. You'd think that the stronger team being away and up against English conditions should make for a competitive series. Let's hope so.

One thing is for sure: the England-NZ series was played in the most fantastic spirit, high-octane but mutually respectful, with milestones applauded, streaky shots met with winks and rueful smiles rather volleys of abuse etc; this one won't be, which is a pity. And that's not a veiled criticism of Australia's on-pitch behaviour: Anderson is as bad as anybody.